How to Customize a Concrete Floor to Match Any Decor

One of the major reasons many homeowners and business owners choose concrete flooring is because it’s exceptionally durable. This is a huge bonus for outdoor concrete surfaces exposed to harsh Minnesota weather. What’s more, concrete floors are also environmentally friendly and don’t require much upkeep. This type of surface doesn’t have to look ugly and unattractive. Concrete floors can be customized to match any type of decor. They can be stamped, polished, stained or colored so that they don’t depict a boring grey, industrial look. Here are some of the ways this can be done.

Stamped Concrete

The most well-known kind of custom concrete is known as stamped concrete. Also called imprinted or patterned concrete, stamped concrete first got appeared in the latter part of the 1950s in California. Today you can find stamped concrete worldwide in just about any texture imaginable, including stone, rock and tile.

Polished Concrete

Consider using polished concrete if you’re looking for an elegant, glossy stone appearance. Although polished concrete has been around since ancient times, it’s becoming increasingly more popular now as a way to customize flooring.

The process of polishing concrete entails using fine diamond pads to grind concrete. An advantage of polished concrete is that it offers low maintenance because there are not any topical sealers that have to be applied.

Stained Concrete

Stained concrete can be categorized into two main groups: tinted sealers and dyed concrete. You can find them in finishes that include everything from high gloss and matte finishes to opaque and translucent ones.

This is an excellent method for sprucing up existing concrete. Another perk is that there is a huge selection of concrete dyes, stains and tinted sealers from which to choose.

Colored Concrete

The easiest and most popular technique for customizing concrete is by mixing color to concrete. When color pigments are added to a concrete mixture, which is a process known as integrally colored concrete, you can transform plain-looking gray concrete into a stunning customized concrete floor.

A coloring agent, also called a dry shake, color hardener or dust-on color, is applied to concrete. Although it can be somewhat more expensive, colored concrete is more durable and offers a wider range of color possibilities.

Decorative Overlays

Decorative overlays, although they’re not as common, are another way to customize concrete flooring. They can be applied over worn or dull-looking surfaces so that there’s no need to remove exiting concrete. Thicknesses in overlays range from the width of a credit card to up to one inch wide.

They can be imprinted to copy the appearance of stamped concrete or look glossy smooth. Keep in mind that most decorative overlays are able to accept stains. This helps in expanding or enhancing a color. As a result, a concrete surface can look even more personalized.

Considerations and Warnings

Stencils are also commonly used for customizing concrete slab borders. But you don’t need to stamp all borders to create a stamped impression. You can use stencils for adding monograms, family crests, business logos and other decorative touches to concrete.

Consider color schemes—Only use colors that are suited for each other. For example, you don’t want to mix yellow and silver together or combine brown and maroon.

You could also use complementary colors, such as red and green, for a contrasting effect.

Consider texture—An excellent way for adding depth to a room is by blending different textures. Just be sure that any textures you combine go well together and depict the type of theme you want.

For a contemporary look, don’t use tile stamps. Instead, select finishes with a clear coat and consider texturing choices.

A few contemporary shades include colors, such as blues, greens and muted red. Glossy or matte finishes also work well with modern decors.

For a more rustic appearance, use earthy tones. Choose stains and stamps that mimic slate stones, which work well for decors that contain a lot of wood items.

If you want your floor to resemble hardwood, consider using stamps and stains that look just like wooden planks.

You can also create an aesthetic, classic look by selecting a finish that mimics quartz or marble.

Questions? Visit PolyTek Surface Coatings. We install both residential and commercial floor coverings, using only the top-notch formulations of polyurea floor coatings so that your floors remain looking outstanding for many years. Please contact us and learn more about what we have to offer.